Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Perry Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Perry, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Perry households is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Perry County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Perry
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Perry. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using heating oil decreased from 936,674 to 663,450, a 29% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Perry
Between 2012 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 188,880 to 282,182, a 49% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,530,063 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Perry
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Perry. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,046,982 to 1,447,260, a 38% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Perry
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 7,204 homes in Perry are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 385% gain from 2012, when 1,484 homes had active solar heating.
Perry County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Perry County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Perry’s overall heating oil use varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Perry was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Perry County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Perry County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Perry residences heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Perry can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 12 “full-service” oil companies that serve Perry. Full service companies such as Suburban Propane or WC Eshenaur & Son Inc offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Perry cash heating oil companies serving Perry include Lisi Oil Co and Marstellar Oil & Concrete Inc.
Perry Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Perry: 11 companies .
Average Number of Perry Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 60314
Perry Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Perry heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Perry temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Perry homes depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Perry County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Perry County Households | Perry County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
36 Perry Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Perry families last winter, the Perry community depends on its 36 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Perry, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Perry and the surrounding vicinity.
